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Testimonials

PRACTICE AREA: REAL ESTATE

Kyana Stewart

Joe Pioletti helped us win a case with a notorious realty, he was very honest and forthright about the terms of the case. He kept us up to date with the court date and made a great offer on our behalf. We received our settlement in a timely matter as well! Take a chance with Pioletti, you won't regret it!

-Robert, a Construction Client

Our Condo HOA was involved in a long running, complex, and very expensive lawsuit with our Developer, Builder and Archchitect. We were not pleased with our previous Lawyers and shopped around for someone with construction experience. We found Jeff and he has been terrific. We are very pleased to have him as our lawyer and....

Testimonials

Practice Area: Real Estate

Joe Pioletti helped us win a case with a notorious realty, he was very honest and forthright about the terms of the case. He kept us up to date with the court date and made a great offer on our behalf. We received our settlement in a timely matter...

Kyana Stewart

JOE PIOLETTI

Knows exactly what he's doing. Always available, very knowledgeable, and produced the result I wanted. Joe is the man, I would recommend him to anybody.

Practice Area: Criminal Defense

Very Helpfull

Joe was very responsive, unflappable, and level-headed. He helped me through an extremely difficult time and sought -- and obtained -- the outcome I needed. Thank you, Joe!

What Are My Rights if I Am Accused of a Crime?

When you are arrested, it is because the police have reason to believe that you have committed a crime. But, police officers are human and just as likely to make mistakes as anyone else.

When you are accused of a crime, being aware of the rights granted to every criminal defendant by the United States Constitution is your first line of defense. Here are several of the most important rights that you should be aware of if you are ever accused of a crime.

You have the right to remain silent

Anything you say before or after you have been arrested can jeopardize your defense. So, speak only when advised by an attorney.

You have the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure

The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution gives you the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure, meaning that unless the police have a warrant, you do not have to give them permission to search your body, home, vehicle or property. Anything that they find can be used against you in court. So if you are presented with warrant, you should ask to examine it before giving them permission to perform the search.

You have the right to avoid self-incrimination

The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution gives you the right to refuse to testify against yourself. This means that you can refuse to take the stand in court. Even if you do take the stand, you can refuse to answer certain questions by simply “pleading the Fifth”.

You have the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty

This means that you are spared the burden of having to prove your own innocence. It is the prosecutor’s job to produce evidence that proves, “beyond a reasonable doubt”, that you are guilty of the crimes you have been accused of.

You have the right to be granted bail

Generally, you have the right to be granted bail, unless you are a flight risk. In addition, the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution requires that bail be set at a reasonable amount and “not excessive”.

You have a right to know what you are accused of

The Sixth Amendment to the Constitution grants you the right to know what you are accused of, as well as, who is making the accusations.

You have the right to confront your accusers

The Sixth Amendment also gives you the right to confront your accusers face-to-face, by way of cross-examination in a court of law, where the jury can decide upon the reliability of the accuser’s testimony.

You have the right to a speedy and public trial

This means that your trial should be held without unreasonable delays. Several factors may be examined to determine if there were any delays that can be seen as unreasonable and that may have jeopardized your right to a fair trial. In addition, with the exception of certain juvenile procedures, your trial must be open and available to the public to ensure transparency and fairness.

You have the right to an attorney

You have the right to have an attorney represent your interest. If you cannot afford an attorney, the court is required to provide one for you. This is one of your most important constitutional rights. When you are accused of a crime, you should always consult with an attorney before making any decision or answering any questions.

Contact a Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you have been accused of a crime, you have several constitutional rights that may be invoked to protect your innocence, not the least of which is the right to an attorney. An experienced criminal defense attorney from Piolettilaw.com, who brings knowledge of the laws, rules, and procedures of the criminal justice system, is your best defense against any criminal charges.

Attorney Joe C. Pioletti was born and raised in Eureka, IL.Joe received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management from Eureka College where he also minored in Spanish.Joe then received his Juris Doctor from Southern Illinois University School of Law.While in law school Joe worked in the Domestic Violence Advocacy Clinic and was a three-time recipient of the Charter Class Campaign for Academic Excellence Scholarship.